What are your fears while hiking?

[Shutterbug]

After reading the thread about the hiker who died in the Grand Canyon, I reflected on my greatest concerns while hiking. I concluded that there are really only three:

Dehydration -- A lot of the places I hike are hot and dry. Making sure I have enough water is always near the top of my list of concerns.

Falling -- Perhaps it is because I took a nasty fall a few years ago, but I often think about how long it will take to be found if I take a fall off the edge of the trail.

Hypothermia -- I don't hike a lot in the winter, but start early in the spring and into the fall. I pay attention to staying warm and dry.

What are your fears when hiking?

[Phreak]

My only fear is dehydration. I don't have a colon and dehydration can set in very quickly - especially if I get a stomach bug.

[Chaco Taco]

Running out of water, not dehydration, just running out.

[neighbor dave]

that the trail isn't long enough and that with every step i take, i'm closer to going back to what i was trying to get away from

[Jim Adams]

Being a paramedic I don't seem to worry too much about illness as you kinda constantly assess your health everyday. I don't worry too much about serious injury because I use enough common sense to keep me out of those situations most of the time. I guess that in the back of my mind I'm always concerned about being lost but have never had to seriously worry about that either.
I'm not kidding here but probably my most serious worry is whether I will not get to town in time for food / beer / whiskey.

geek

[Lone Wolf]

What are your fears when hiking?

hiking 25 miles to a town and finding the beer store closed

[Plodderman]

No great fears but have had a few hikes when water sources were dry.

[Lugnut]

Being trapped in a shelter during a severe storm with Jack and Warren!

[Cannibal]

Severe injury and someone finding my nice little stealth spot.

[saimyoji]

Being trapped in a shelter during a severe storm with Jack and Warren!

if you asked nicely warren might let you sleep in his van.

[jesse]

ticks......

[gravy4601]

hiking 25 miles to a town and finding the beer store closed

yeah Wolf that scares me to

[Tin Man]

hiking to my cache and finding the liquor missing

[Egads]

I don't worry while hiking except during lightning storms since the trail usually follow ridges.

[summermike]

Being severely injured and not being able to get help. I hate to say it but I may start hiking with my cell phone.

[Jim Adams]

Being severely injured and not being able to get help. I hate to say it but I may start hiking with my cell phone.

Quit driving...its far more dangerous!
geek

[Trooper]

I know this doesn't happen all too often, but venemous snake bites. Typically I spend most of the time watching my footing to avoid injury and not watching what might be laying on the trail ahead. What do you do if you get bitten, there's no cell reception, no one is around to help you, and you are not within a mile of a town? What do you do? What DO you DO?

[Shutterbug]

I know this doesn't happen all too often, but venemous snake bites. Typically I spend most of the time watching my footing to avoid injury and not watching what might be laying on the trail ahead. What do you do if you get bitten, there's no cell reception, no one is around to help you, and you are not within a mile of a town? What do you do? What DO you DO?

I almost stepped on one last year. He was hard to see. Fortunately, I heard his rattle and jumped back just as he struck.

[chknfngrs]

running out of water seems common.

I ran into two older gents' last summer in PA who ran out of water. They didn't ask us for it, but my brother and I gave them a nalgene because they looked rough.

[johnnybgood]

hiking 25 miles to a town and finding the beer store closed

....and you must sleep in a crowded hostel.